Lleyton Hewitt hadn’t featured in a US Open quarterfinal since 2006. On Wednesday morning Australian veteran blew a golden opportunity to advance even further.
A come from behind win by Russian Mikhail Youzhny ended Hewitt’s surprising Flashing Meadows’ run after the Australian let two prime opportunities to claim a win go begging.
Hewitt led two-sets-to-one before giving away 4-1 and 5-2 leads in the fourth and fifth sets, eventually losing 6-3 3-6 6-7 (3-7) 6-4 7-5 to the 21st seed.
The 32-year-old easily dispatched a number of higher ranked opponents on his way to the tournament’s fourth round, including sixth-seed Juan Martin del Potro in a four and half hour instant classic, but failed to build on the momentum supplied by some patches of fine form and a vocal Australian contingent, however he did not fail to produce a typical gutsy effort in another top class performance.
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“I understand. It was fine. The crowd was not against me. It was for Lleyton more,” Youzhny said post-match.
Youzhny showed far more aggression with the game on the line halfway through the fourth set, producing a number of winners Hewitt simply wasn’t able to match over the final thrilling hour. He advances to play either world No.1 Novak Djokovic or 43rd ranked Marcel Granollers in the semis.
“I have to play well,” Youzhny said of his upcoming challenge. “First of all, I have to recover after this match.”
Hewitt last played in a Grand Slam quarterfinal at Wimbledon in 2009.
“Lleyton is a great player,” Youzhny told reporters. “When he is on the court he always fights. He’s still a top player and can beat top players like Del Potro. It was very tough for me to beat him for just the second time.”
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Don Emmert, Getty Images.
